Then ROC curve, Harrell’s concordance index (C-index) and Akaike information criterion (AIC) analysis were used to compare the prognostic accuracy of CLEC3B expression and TNM stage alone, or the combination of CLEC3B expression and TNM stage, the results showed the combination of CLEC3B expression and TNM staging system will improve prognostic accuracy and the results of the predictive model for overall survival of HCC patients (Additional file 2: Figure S2F-S2J). This evidence concerns the gene CLEC3B and hepatocellular carcinoma.